March 6, 2025 Economic Development Committee Meeting

The Northampton County Economic Development Committee meeting on March 6, 2025, featured presentations from the Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley and the Memorial Library of Nazareth. The Hispanic Center highlighted its extensive community services, including a Workforce Development Center launched in 2023 in partnership with St. Luke's University Health Network and local educational institutions. This center focuses on uplifting the Latino community through career training, ESL, GED, and healthcare sector job placement, supported by grants and partnerships. The Center also detailed its food pantry and senior services, noting significant increases in community demand and the critical role of grants such as Norco CDBG and Department of Aging funds in sustaining operations. The Memorial Library of Nazareth presented its broad community engagement programs, including literacy, technology access, and cultural events, supported by municipal funding, state subsidies, and grants. The library is undertaking a $700,000 HVAC renovation funded by a combination of Commonwealth grants, county Norco grants, and private donations, with plans to develop a Workforce Development Center space within the library. Both organizations emphasized the importance of partnerships and grant funding to maintain and expand their services, with committee members expressing support and interest in promoting these workforce initiatives countywide.